11 Best Brand Name Cereals for Weight Loss

Just as some of us can barely function without a morning cup of coffee, others can’t imagine starting their day without a bowl of cereal.

By
Eat This, Not That! Editors

November 11, 2015

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11 Best Brand Name Cereals for Weight Loss

Just as some of us can barely function without a morning cup of coffee, others can’t imagine starting their day without a bowl of cereal.

ByEat This, Not That! EditorsNovember 11, 2015

In fact, despite reports of the breakfast staple’s declining popularity, cold cereal is still the most popular breakfast in America, according to global information and measurement company, Nielsen. And it’s easy to see why. Cereal is easy to prepare and it’s relatively inexpensive compared to other a.m. favorites like yogurt parfaits and coffee-shop egg sandwiches. Not to mention, those delicious, colorful flakes and are downright delicious. But when you’re trying to lose weight, picking just any variety won’t do. We’re looking at you, Count Chocula—sorry!

For every healthy pick on the supermarket shelf, it seems there are dozens of diet-derailing options (often slapped with misleading weight-loss claims) that are overflowing with health-harming sugar and void of any nutritional value. However, if you know what to look for, you can munch your way to a fitter, trimmer you. While the cereal boxes below don’t have a cute cartoon character on the front or a prize at the bottom, they will fuel your day right and help you reach your better-body goals in no time! And to keep up your weight loss, blast fat fast with help from Insanity trainer Shaun T, Maria Menounos, Padma Lakshmi and more using these FREE 50 Best-Ever Weight Loss Secrets From Skinny People!

Eat This!

General Mills Kix, 1 cup

Calories

88

Fat

1 g

Saturated Fat

0 g

Carbs

20 g

Fiber

2.5 g

Sugar

2.5 g

Protein

1.6 g

Kid-tested, nutritionist-approved, this childhood fave is one low-sugar kids’ cereal we can actually get behind. Give it a grown-up spin by adding blueberries to your crispy corn puff-filled bowl. Not only is the duo delicious, the fruit lends some disease-fighting antioxidants and additional fiber. It’s a win-win!

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Kashi GoLean Crunch!, 1 cup

Calories

250

Fat

4 g

Saturated Fat

0 g

Carbs

50 g

Fiber

10 g

Sugar

17 g

Protein

12 g

Ten grams of heart-healthy, belly-filling fiber goes a long way toward making up for the higher-than-ideal sugar content of these hearty clusters. This cereal not only tastes delicious with milk, but also makes a sweet, crunchy addition to plain Greek yogurt.

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Erewhon Crispy Brown Rice, 1 cup

Calories

110

Fat

0 g

Saturated Fat

0 g

Carbs

25 g

Fiber

1 g

Sugar

1 g

Protein

2 g

Sure they may go “snap, crackle, pop” but these 100 percent whole-grain, gluten-free puffs are a more nutritious choice than the brand you’re likely thinking of. This low-sugar cereal carries a slightly nutty flavor and pairs well with both strawberries and raspberries. These fruits provide the hunger-busting fiber this otherwise nutritious cereal lacks, ensuring you’ll stay satiated until lunch.

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Kellogg’s Special K Red Berries, 1 cup

Calories

110

Fat

0 g

Saturated Fat

0 g

Carbs

27 g

Fiber

3 g

Sugar

9 g

Protein

2 g

This cereal employs wheat bran to up its fiber count and freeze-dried strawberries for some natural sweetness. While the flakes obviously pair well with milk and spoon, they also make for an iron- and vitamin C-rich base for a sweet and salty trail mix. Just add pretzel sticks, almonds and walnuts.

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Post Shredded Wheat Spoon Size Wheat ’n Bran, 1 cup

Calories

160

Fat

1 g

Saturated Fat

0 g

Carbs

38.4 g

Fiber

7 g

Sugar

0 g

Protein

4.8 g

This cereal is made with just whole-grain wheat and wheat bran—a pure base crying out for fresh blueberries or bananas. In addition to serving up a decent share of hunger-quelling protein and fiber in every bowl, Wheat ’n Bran also provides 20 percent of the day’s phosphorus, a mineral that plays an important role in how the body uses carbs and fats. It also helps the body make protein. Don’t forget: The more protein you’ve got, the more calories you burn at rest, so this is a great added bonus to your morning cereal bowl!

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Erewhon Raisin Bran, 1 cup

Calories

180

Fat

1 g

Saturated Fat

0 g

Carbs

40 g

Fiber

6 g

Sugar

8 g

Protein

6 g

Post and Total varieties of Raisin Bran carry between 17 and 19 grams of the sweet stuff. Erewhon Raisin Bran has less than half that amount, making it the clear winner in the category. The only downside is that these flakes aren’t fortified with the same alphabet of vitamins typically found in cereal boxes—but that’s no reason to pass them up. Just be sure to compensate by taking in an array of nutrients throughout the day.

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Kashi® GOLEAN® Vanilla Graham Clusters, 1 cup

Calories

170

Fat

1.5 g

Saturated Fat

0 g

Carbs

36 g

Fiber

9 g

Sugar

9 g

Protein

11 g

Cereals rich in fiber and whole grains reduce the risk of disease and early death, say Harvard School of Public Health researchers. Lucky for you, these clusters are made with fiber-rich whole grains like brown rice, triticale, barley, rye, buckwheat and bran—oh, and they have a slightly sweet vanilla taste and crunchy texture you’re sure to love, too.

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General Mills Cinnamon Burst Cheerios, 1 cup

Calories

120

Fat

2 g

Saturated Fat

0 g

Carbs

27 g

Fiber

3 g

Sugar

9 g

Protein

2 g

This cereal employs all the cholesterol-busting power of oat bran and then adds just a touch of sweetness to pump up the flavor. What’s more, a cup of this a.m. treat provides 50 percent of the day’s folic acid, a nutrient that may help ward off high blood pressure. Note: Although Cinnamon Burst Cheerios (and the Wheaties mentioned below) currently contain BHT, a preservative banned in other parts of the world because it’s thought to be carcinogenic, General Mills is in the process of removing it from their cereals, which is why it still has a place on our list.

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Quaker Instant Oatmeal Lower Sugar Maple & Brown Sugar, 1 packet

Calories

120

Fat

2 g

Saturated Fat

0 g

Carbs

24 g

Fiber

3 g

Sugar

4 g

Protein

4 g

Although we typically recommend slow-cooking oats, we know that sometimes mornings can be hectic at best. If you find yourself in a time crunch or even just want to keep a healthy snack stashed in your desk drawer, we recommend this low-sugar variety by Quaker. It has a third of the sugar of the original variety, but the same great taste. Promise.

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General Mills Wheaties, 1 cup

Calories

133

Fat

1 g

Saturated Fat

0 g

Carbs

29 g

Fiber

4 g

Sugar

5 g

Protein

2.7 g

Low in calories and sugar, high in gut-filling fiber and loaded with 45 percent of the day’s muscle-building iron, Wheaties really is the breakfast of champions. Although it isn’t particularly flavorful, it does make a good base for nutritious add-ins like berries and nuts.

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General Mills Fiber One, 1 cup

Calories

120

Fat

2 g

Saturated Fat

0 g

Carbs

50 g

Fiber

28 g

Sugar

0 g

Protein

4 g

If you used to avoid this super fiber-filled cereal because of its inclusion of aspartame, we’ve got some good news! General Mills recently gave the controversial ingredient the axe. So go ahead and sprinkle this cereal over Greek yogurt instead of granola for a fiber- and protein-filled start to the day.

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